Shopping Guide: The Best Places To Blow Your Paycheck In New York City

In a town where assistants drop a paycheck on a pair of shoes and it’s par for the course to window browse after Sunday brunch, New York caters to shoppers who mean business. Whether you’re looking for one-stop department stores, quirky boutiques, or sleek design shops, we’ve got you covered. Here are our favorite places in the Big Apple to spend in style.

Department Stores and Chains

Henri Bendel712 5th Avenue1-800-HBENDEL, Henribendel.com
Ladies who lunch and punky teens alike shop at this 5th Avenue staple. Get your fill on Dolce dresses, True Religion jeans, or Benefit cosmetics. Labels aside, Bendel’s is worth a visit if not just to sip hot cocoa at the cafe on the top floor and take in a true New York landmark; the store opened in 1895 and still displays much of the original decor.

Barneys CO-OP116 Wooster Street(212) 965-9964, Barneys.com
With a few locations scattered throughout Manhattan, Barney’s Co-Op is home to upper mid-range labels like Rag & Bone, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Phillip Lim, and Alexander Wang. (You’ll find the really high fashion at the Barneys flagship on Madison Avenue). Be sure head to the denim bar on the lower level where you’ll also find comfy Splendid and Ella Moss tees.

Topshop478 Broadway(212) 966-9555, Topshop.com
We’re officially obsessed! British mania has invaded Manhattan thanks to the U.K. retail giant that just set up its first U.S. shop in SoHo. Fight the crowds to get your hands on Kate Moss’ boho-chic line or dresses that look like they just walked off the pages of Teen Vogue (but didn’t cost quite as much).

Independent Boutiques

Oak28 Bond Street(212) 677-1293, OakNYC.com
Oak caters to modern types through its selection of concept pieces that, more often than not, come in black, white, or gray. Look for asymmetrical cotton tops by Complex Geometries or Sunshine and Shadow geometric-print blouses. There’s a relatively small stock of often-obscure or hard-to-get Euro designers, which is a good guarantee that you won’t be caught wearing the same thing as someone else.

Jumelle148 Bedford Avenue (Brooklyn)(718) 388-9525, ShopJumelle.com
Over in Brooklyn, Williamsburg is filled with new boutiques, but Jumelle is one of our favorites for its perfect balance of pretty (Madison Marcus, Mayle) versus edgy (Grey Ant, Nicholas K). Equally awesome are the APC accessories and Loeffler Randall leather boots. Don’t miss the selection of French designers like Isabel Marant and Sonia Rykiel.

Shop94 Orchard Street(212) 375-0304, ILoveShop.com
This Lower East Side boutique stocks a crowd-pleasing supply of colorful dresses, comfy underthings by Eberjey, and funky Charlotte Ronson tops. We’ve got to give them props on Shop’s always-perfect range of accessories, which often include the latest Wendy Nichol jewelry designs and Rebecca Minkoff purses that you’ll want more than one of.

Vintage and Secondhand

Beacon’s Closet88 North 11th Street (Brooklyn)(718) 486-0816, BeaconsCloset.com
Beacon’s is a bit like a huge hipster clothing swap. Without fail, there’s a line each weekend of locals, waiting to sell their unwanted plaid shirts and skinny jeans (score!). There’s everything from H&M shirts you saw in the store two weeks ago to 1950’s-vintage sundresses. Prices are low, especially if you decide to sell clothes beforehand, which gives you 35 percent cash or a 55 percent store credit of the total value.

Tokio764 East 7th Street(212) 353-8443
While Tokio7 is no secret, shopping here feels like it is. On a recent trip, we found a black Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress (for a moderate $90), a Marc Jacobs pencil skirt, and an oversized men’s cashmere sweater by Comme des Garçons. Whether you’re looking for a power piece designed by the likes of Gucci or Prada, or a fun Free People top, you’re sure to find it in this packed space.

Design and Home Decor

ABC Carpet & Home888 Broadway(212) 473-3000, ABCHome.com
Walking into ABC is a bit like entering a fairy tale with an entry filled with sparkly chandeliers, silk saris, and Moroccan goods. The store, which takes up the entire building, showcases the best of high-end furniture, lighting, upholstery, and antiques. When you’re done, pop into Pipa, the tapas resto on the ground floor, for a frozen coconut pear mojito.

Auto805 Washington Street(212) 229-2292, ThisIsAuto.com
We love this small, well-curated West Village shop for room accents and gifts. Check out the luxe Missoni scarves, Plover Organic sheets and placemats, and Unison printed pillows. If funky is your thing, pick up a bean bag chair shaped like an apple. For something classic, check out the John Derian decoupage cake stands.

The Future Perfect115 North 6th Street (Williamsburg)(718) 599-6278, TheFuturePerfect.com
Design snobs will love this Brooklyn shop, which showcases the newest in tabletop, furniture, and decorative objects. With its collection of decorative golden pigs, retainer shaped necklaces, and doll head candlestick holders, you’ll think the place is ridiculous or genius. Yet, some items are undeniably perfect, like the super-sleek-and-simple oak desks.